Overview
On September 18, 2025, following an investigation initiated by public complaint(s), the City of Portland issued a land use violation notice for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Southwest Portland, launching a process to bring the site's detention practices into compliance with the conditions of the site's land use approval.
Federal government records from a 10-month period showed more than a dozen instances of detainees being kept overnight or held for more than 12 hours, which is in violation of the facility's land use conditions of approval with the City. The notice also references a second violation related to boarded windows, which is not associated with the land use approval.
Like ICE sites in many U.S. cities, Portland's South Waterfront facility has attracted attention since the current presidential administration ramped up immigration enforcement. In response to formal complaints, the City launched an investigation in July 2025. The City reviewed data released to the Deportation Data Project, a nonprofit that used the Freedom of Information Act to request information about ICE processing centers.
Records indicate that detainees were held beyond the facility's 12-hour limit or kept overnight 25 times between October 1, 2024, and July 27, 2025. The most recent violation during that period took place May 20.
Under land use rules, a landowner or operator has 30 days after receiving a notice of violation to correct the issue. If there is substantial evidence of violation, a fine can be issued. Portland Permitting & Development can also initiate a "reconsideration" of a land use approval by scheduling a hearing at least 60 days after the notice. Once the hearings officer makes a decision, it can be appealed to the Portland City Council by any interested party.
Current status
Last updated: December 12, 2025
On October 3, 2025, the law firm representing the owner of 4310 S. Macadam Ave requested an Administrative Review of the September 18 Notice of Violation issued for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Southwest Portland.
Portland Permitting and Development is scheduling a meeting with the landlord of the ICE facility and their legal team to present their case in the administrative review. Administrative review meetings are not open to the public. While the matter progresses, ICE can continue to operate under its existing land use approval.
Administrative review process
If an owner or leasee who receives a notice of violation believes the finding of the notice was in error, that party may have the notice reviewed by the City. A request for administrative review must be made within 15 days of receiving the notice, and the owner or leasee requesting review is then given the opportunity to present evidence to the City.
The administrative review process involves a meeting between the owner or leasee and Portland Permitting & Development, during which the owner or leasee shares evidence to support their position. After the meeting, Permitting will review all the information and issue an Administrative Review Decision.
The administrative review process does not require public notification, public comment periods, or action from City Council. Administrative review meetings are not open to the public, and there is no code-required timeline for issuing a decision following an administrative review meeting. The City's administrative review decision may be appealed to the City Code Hearings Office. A City Code Hearing's Order regarding an appeal of an enforcement action can be appealed to Circuit Court.
Background on the ICE facility
The conditional land use approval for this facility has been in place since 2011, shortly after the building owner for 4310 S. Macadam Ave. secured a long-term lease with the General Services Administration for two agencies associated with ICE. The site includes a processing center where federal officers detain and interview people to determine their legal status as U.S. residents.
Under Portland's Zoning Code, detention facilities require a land use approval for the conditional use. As part of the conditional use decision made by the City in 2011, detainees can be held for no longer than 12 hours and may not remain overnight.
Learn more
- Learn more about Portland and the Federal Government.
- Get updates about protests at Portland and Federal Troops.
- Find public records associated with the ICE facility.